California Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services are becoming increasingly popular because of their simplicity and convenience. You discover you need a ride somewhere and, instead of calling a cab or trying to flag one down, you hop on your app and connect with a driver who’ll take you wherever you need to go.
But, what happens if you’re in an accident with a rideshare or while getting a lift? Does the driver’s insurance cover your damage? Does the company have a policy? Or, is it one of those fine print situations where you’re assuming all the risk yourself and waiving responsibility for any future harm?
Because companies like Uber and Lyft are so new, it’s hard to know exactly what to do or expect if you’ve been in an accident. But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ll walk you through the most common types of Uber & Lyft accidents and what do to after you’ve been in an accident. Then, we’ll answer all those questions we asked about insurance and who covers what when an accident happens.
What are the most common types of Uber & Lyft accidents?
There are many different types of accidents that a rideshare such as Uber or Lyft can be part of. For example, the driver of the rideshare could:
- Hit another car,
- Be hit by another car, or
- Hit you (a pedestrian or bicyclist) with their car.
If you were injured by the negligence or carelessness of someone else, you are eligible to request compensation for any injuries, loss of income, pain and suffering, and long-term medical treatment resulting from the accident.
What you should do after your California Uber or Lyft accident?
Whether you’re struck by an Uber or Lyft or whether you’re a rideshare passenger when an accident occurs, it’s hard to know exactly what to do. In order to make sure you don’t get stuck holding the bill for an accident that wasn’t your fault, follow these six steps.
- Start gathering evidence as soon as the accident happens. If you are not badly injured, take pictures of the scene of the accident, your injuries, the damage to your vehicle (or the vehicle you were riding in), the damage to the other vehicle, skid marks, and anything else you think might be important. You should also get the names and phone numbers of witnesses as well as the insurance information for the other party involved.
- Get emergency care. Have the medics who arrive at the scene of the accident examine you. Then, go to the hospital and have the ER doctor double-check. This way, if you have any sort of injury (even if it’s internal and you don’t notice any effects from it yet), the doctor can make a note and start treatment. Getting medical help is extremely important. After your accident, you may feel fine. You might be tempted to forgo an exam or trip to the hospital. However, you must receive complete medical care to ensure you don’t have a serious injury.
- Don’t talk to anyone about your case, especially anyone from an insurance company. If you get a phone call and the person says he or she is from an insurance company, stop talking. Whether this person is from your insurance company, the Uber or Lyft driver’s, or maybe even the other driver’s insurance company; you only have money to lose by chatting. Right now, the insurance company is looking for reasons your story is weak. They’re searching for ways to justify paying you less money. What you want is the best settlement possible to ensure all your accident-related expenses are covered.
- Stay off social media. You know the saying, “Loose lips sink ships?” The same is true when you speak about your auto accident. Don’t post about your accident on social media. Keep your lips shut and let your lawyer speak on your behalf.
- Don’t accept any offers or checks from the insurance company. If the insurance company is offering you a check or trying to negotiate a settlement, they think you have a good case. And, although the idea of receiving a fat check right now might sound good, think about their motives. If they’re offering you a check, they’re guessing the amount you really should receive would be a good deal higher than that amount.
- Talk to experienced Uber & Lyft accident lawyers. There are many experienced personal injury lawyers out there, but most haven’t successfully helped clients who’ve been in rideshare accidents. By interviewing successful Uber & Lyft accident lawyers, you can decide who’s the best for your case. Make sure to ask whether the lawyer has helped clients who were riding in the rideshare, clients who have had a collision with a rideshare, or both.
Maybe you’re hesitant to hire a lawyer. It’s understandable. But, here’s the situation: Right now, the insurance company that’s liable for the accident is doing its very best to minimize (or completely eliminate) the amount of money they need to pay for the accident. In fact, they have a whole team of lawyers working to ensure you don’t see a dime of their company’s money. Pretty scary, right?
But, what if you had your own experienced lawyer? Suddenly, it doesn’t seem quite so frightening when you’ve got a person who knows California laws on your side.
If you’re in an accident with an Uber or Lyft, who pays for the damage?
First of all, it’s important to understand that California follows a traditional fault system. This means whoever is at-fault for the accident is the one who pays. One party can be held solely responsible for the accident, or it can be determined that both parties are partially at fault.
Second, you need to know that under the traditional fault system in order to receive compensation, the injured party must also prove that:
- He or she was owed a duty of care by the other party,
- The other party breached the duty of care,
- The breach directly caused the accident, and
- The accident resulted in damages like medical care or suffering.
So, if you’re going to receive compensation for being in an accident with a Lyft or Uber, you need to prove the other person is at-fault, that you aren’t, and that you had injury or damage because of the accident. Once the judge reviews your case, he or she decides which percentage of fault each party holds. That helps determine who’s paying for what.
Uber & Lyft insurance
Insurance requirements for Uber & Lyft drivers are different than for regular automobile drivers. Rideshare companies require their drivers to have a minimum of liability insurance for:
- $50,000 in bodily injury per person,
- $100,000 per bodily injury per accident, and
- $30,000 in property damage.
If a driver doesn’t have a passenger yet, he or she is also required by the state of California to have an additional $200,000 of liability coverage in case of a severe accident.
However, once a driver picks up a passenger, the driver’s company adds extra insurance. In fact, Uber and Lyft provide their drivers with $1 million in liability insurance per incident and $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident.
Would you like to speak with some experienced California Uber & Lyft lawyers?
After you’ve been in an accident, it’s perfectly normal for you to need help. There’s no need for you to have to navigate the complexities of personal injury law on your own. And, there are many skilled and qualified lawyers ready to help you.
By getting help right now from an experienced lawyer—someone who has successfully handled your type of case—it will be much more likely that your settlement will completely cover any expenses you have from:
- Property damage,
- Current and future medical bills,
- Lost wages, and
- Pain and suffering.
Right now, you need help from someone who has already helped others who have been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident receive the financial settlement they deserve. You need someone who can see the big picture and anticipate what other surprise expenses might be headed your way. You need someone to carry the burden of successfully handling your case.
After reading all of this, you might wonder why I would spend time telling you that there are tons of eligible lawyers waiting to help you. Why wouldn’t I just say, “Hire us! We’re the right lawyers for your case!”?
Honestly, you should know that you have many options. Look around and see what the other personal injury lawyers have to offer. Interview them and really listen to what they say. Check their results from settling cases similar to yours. Then, check how successful they are when the case heads to court and they have to present before a judge and jury.
But, after all the Googling, reading, and interviews; I’m confident you’ll end up right back here. That’s because I’m positive we’re the right Uber & Lyft accident lawyers for you.
Regardless of whether you choose to work with our firm or someone else, we wish you all the best in your case.
